POLICY & POLITICS
What does leadership look like in your community?
James Irvine Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Leadership Awards – a $250,000 grant for California leaders. Accepting nominations at IrvineAwards.org through May 7, 2021.
North SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Stanislaus leaders agree with June reopen date. But will COVID-19 rebound again? Modesto Bee
Stanislaus deaths reach 1,009. Cases stand at 53,194 Modesto Bee
Highly infectious coronavirus variant found in South Africa now in Stanislaus County Modesto Bee
Stanislaus adds 3 deaths and 66 cases, and stays in red Modesto Bee
How did COVID-19 impact flu in Stanislaus County? Here are the numbers Modesto Bee
Details emerge on how Modesto will engage residents in talks over how cops police city
Modesto Bee
Modesto leaders will have a conversation with the community regarding the Police Department’s policies and practices as part of an effort that could result in the city forming a civilian oversight board for the department.
Turlock launches police advisory board. Here’s why meetings aren’t open to the public
Modesto Bee
After the Turlock Police Department’s new advisory board met for the first time last month and began giving feedback on homelessness, Interim Chief Steven Williams said he plans to request perspectives on additional issues ranging from race to use of force.
Modesto to give RAD Program $650K once it knows it can use its pandemic dollars
Modesto Bee
The Modesto City Council on Tuesday night approved allocating $650,000 in matching funds for the RAD Card program, which doubles consumers’ spending power and has helped restaurants and other small, locally owned businesses survive the economic havoc caused by the pandemic.
SJ Board of Supervisors taps Auditor-Controller Jay Wilverding to be county administrator
Stockton Record
Jay Wilverding, San Joaquin County's former auditor-controller, was tapped by the Board of Supervisors last month to permanently step into the role of county administrator.
Central SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
One more central San Joaquin Valley county opens vaccine eligibility to all adults Fresno Bee
Fresno County nears 100K COVID cases, 1,600 deaths over 13 months. Hospitalizations dip Fresno Bee
Kings County expands vaccine eligibility for anyone 16+ abc30
Public health dept. opens vaccines to anyone over 16 Madera Tribune
Newsom to visit Fresno, discuss plans to combat wildfires following brutal 2020 season
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom will visit the Fresno area on Thursday to tour the work being done in preparation of the possibility of another series of wildfires.
Clovis Educators Push to Form Union
Clovis RoundUp
Clovis educators have launched an organizing effort called the Association of Clovis Educators (ACE) in hopes of forming a union within the Clovis Unified School District.
See also:
Fresno area nears end of PG&E COVID deferrals. Here’s how to get caught up on payments
Fresno Bee
The moratorium on disconnecting utilities in Fresno and the rest of the state during the COVID pandemic is set to sunset at the end of June, according to Pacific Gas & Electric.
Here’s why city leaders say Fresno’s first solar farm will be good for local PG&E bills
Fresno Bee
The city of Fresno is converting 85 acres of land at the Fresno Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility to a solar farm in partnership with Fresno Community Solar Developers, LLC, run by Richard Spencer and Larry Westerlund.
Fresno councilman offers solution for rezoning standoff. Why community leaders are saying no
Fresno Bee
Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias has flipped his stance on a southwest industrial rezone application that’s up for consideration Wednesday night at the Planning Commission meeting.
Fresno City Hall Planning Department Counters Open To Public
Business Journal
The City of Fresno announced that public facing counters in the Planning and Development Department are now open.
Industrial farms leave water wells ‘high and dry’ despite regulations, Madera residents say
Modesto Bee
Yet even as groundwater basins have been in decline, land use continues to change to more water-intensive activities, contributing to over-tapped water basins and threatening farms and residents who rely on relatively-shallow well pumps for their water.
Animal rights activists take aim at Central Valley farms; cruelty claims at Land O’Lakes
Fresno Bee
The animal rights activist group Direct Action Everywhere is leveling claims of animal abuse at several Land O’Lakes dairy operations in the central San Joaquin Valley, including Zonneveld Dairy near Laton in Fresno County.
Warszawski: Clovis Rodeo’s no-bull COVID stance is commendable. Now just ignore the ignorant herd
Fresno Bee
Since most of us aren’t cowboys — myself included despite living in Clovis these past seven years — terms like “cowboy strong” and “cowboy up” are little more than banal cliches. Not anymore, and for that we have the Clovis Rodeo to thank.
South SJ Valley:
COVID Update:
Kern Public Health: 1 coronavirus death, 85 new cases reported Wednesday Bakersfield Californian
Kern's expanded eligibility, availability attracts Los Angeles residents in search of vaccine Los Angeles Times
L.A.’s young and healthy head to Bakersfield for COVID-19 vaccine Los Angeles Times
Valadao gives donations from Rep. Matt Gaetz to Fresno domestic violence shelter
Bakersfield Californian
Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, announced that he's giving the donations that he's received from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., over the last two campaign cycles to a Fresno shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Closure of Taft Modified Community Correctional Facility imminent, as state ends contract with city
Bakersfield Californian
The Taft Modified Community Correctional Facility is scheduled for closure, as the state has ended its contract with the city effective May 31.
COVID testing blitz undermined screening, fight against STDs
KGET
After an unprecedented push to test and track COVID-19, public health workers are grappling with a worrisome side effect: a collapse in screening for sexually transmitted diseases that have been on the rise for years.
State:
COVID Update:
Where will we be on June 15? End in sight to COVID restrictions abc30
California Plans for Statewide Reopening in June Clovis RoundUp
Governor Aims To Reopen California By Mid-June, Contingent On Public Health Metrics VPR
California could actually reopen fully by June 15. Here’s what has to happen Los Angeles Times
Far fewer California seniors are getting vaccinated in ‘red’ counties than urban areas Los Angeles Times
California counties a hodgepodge of highs and lows in vaccinating vulnerable seniors
Mercury News
Even as California prepares to expand vaccine eligibility on April 15 to all residents age 16 and up, the state has managed to inoculate only about half its senior population — the 65-and-older target group deemed most vulnerable to death and serious illness in the pandemic.
See also:
Vaccines on tap for California’s children, but what do parents say? EdSource
California expecting nearly 90% drop in J&J vaccines next week, leading to fewer first-shot appointments Mercury News
Editorial: Vaccine passports needed before Gov. Newsom’s reckless reopening
Mercury News
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s move to reopen the state by June 15 must be accompanied by a vaccine passport system that ensures public gatherings don’t become venues for spreading coronavirus.
How an anti-mask, anti-vaccine activist became a leader of the Gavin Newsom recall
Sacramento Bee
Six weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom handed down a statewide shelter-in-place order, hundreds of people who resented his coronavirus restrictions gathered at the Capitol to decry his emergency powers.
See also:
31% of Californians don’t have high-speed internet, state says. How Newsom can change that
Fresno Bee
Broadband expansion advocates are pushing California Gov. Gavin Newsom to use $2 billion in federal money to not only bring high-speed internet to communities without access, but also to have the state provide low-cost or free broadband access to low-income households.
New California homeless database aims to help policymakers
Fresno Bee
A new California data warehouse system unveiled Wednesday should help policymakers better understand and address the issue of homelessness in a state that has the most unhoused people in the country, officials said.
Should California decriminalize psychedelic drugs? Army veteran makes his case to lawmakers
Fresno Bee
The 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran said he felt worthless and depressed when he returned from a deployment in Afghanistan, where who lost both legs and an arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device.
How a surprising Newsom veto threw California’s garbage, building industries into chaos
Sacramento Bee
For years, contractors and trash haulers in California have been accepting discarded fence posts, backyard deck planks and other chemically treated wood debris without giving it much thought.
Free banking in California? New bill tackles access and racial equity
Los Angeles Times
Escalating overdraft charges. Minimum balances. High ATM, check-cashing and debit card fees. Banking can be expensive, especially for low-wage workers.
2021 California Housing Legislation Highlights
Alfred Twu
After a couple years of huge wildfires, change is on the way. The strategy combines insurance coverage, retrofitting buildings to be less flammable, and shifting development away from hazardous areas.
Walters: Would fed change make higher state taxes more likely?
CalMatters
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and six other governors want the $10,000 limit on deducting state and local taxes to be repealed.
Opinion: Promoting Racial Equity Through California’s Tax and Revenue Policies
California Budget & Policy Center
Legacies of historical racist policies and ongoing discrimination in areas such as education, employment, and housing have barred many Californians of color from economic opportunities.
Federal:
COVID Update:
Is the end of the COVID pandemic on the way? Fauci urges Americans to ‘hang in there’ Fresno Bee
U.K. coronavirus variant is now the dominant strain in the U.S., CDC says NBCNews
A Year of U.S. Public Opinion on the Coronavirus Pandemic Pew Research Center
Biden open to compromise on infrastructure plan, but not inaction
abc30
President Joe Biden drew a red line on his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan Wednesday, saying he is open to compromise on how to pay for the package but inaction is unacceptable.
See also:
Biden digs in for negotiations over infrastructure and jobs plan Los Angeles Times
Biden says he’s open to compromise with Republicans on $2 trillion infrastructure plan Washington Post
Biden Urges Broad View of Infrastructure in Pushing $2.3 Trillion Package Wall Street Journal
Biden administration makes pitch for higher business taxes
Los Angeles Times
The Biden administration is drilling down on the argument that higher corporate tax rates would ultimately help an ailing economy, saying the resulting infrastructure investments would boost growth.
See also:
Biden’s infrastructure tax hike worries some Democrats about impact on wealthy voters McClatchy
Biden Softens Tax Plan Aimed at Profitable Companies That Pay Little Wall Street Journal
Janet Yellen: A Better Corporate Tax for America Wall Street Journal
Biden’s Plan to Fix America’s Internet New York Times
White House rejects U.S. vaccine passports, skirting uproar
Los Angeles Times
The U.S. government won’t issue so-called vaccine passports, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, after Texas sought to limit their development because of privacy concerns.
See also:
Vaccine passports in California? Answers to your questions CalMatters
We tested the first state ‘vaccine passport.’ Here’s what worked — and didn’t. Washington Post
Biden to unveil actions on guns, including new ATF boss
Bakersfield Californian
President Joe Biden will unveil a series of executive actions aimed at addressing gun violence on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the plans, delivering his first major action on gun control since taking office.
See also:
Biden to take executive actions to reduce gun violence Los Angeles Times
Biden to take a flurry of actions on gun control Washington Post
Biden to Unveil Gun Restrictions Including ‘Ghost Guns’ Measures Wall Street Journal
Editorial: ‘Ghost guns’ need to be brought out of the shadows Los Angeles Times
Biden faces question of whether to keep abortion funding ban in his budget
Los Angeles Times
President Biden was the last Democrat in the party’s 2020 presidential field to embrace the idea of ending the decades-long ban on federal funding of abortion.
Dianne Feinstein signals she’s open to abandoning Senate filibuster for voting rights
Los Angeles Times
A senior staffer to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) signaled Tuesday that the senator would support circumventing the long-standing filibuster rule to enact a voting rights bill with only 50 votes in the Senate.
Census Delay Spells Election Chaos for States
PEW
The months-long delay in tallying last year’s census is wreaking havoc on the states with elections this year and next.
See also:
Editorial: Privacy vs. accuracy? Questions swirl around 2020 census Los Angeles Times
Opinion: Four Ways of Looking at the Radicalism of Joe Biden
New York Times
Joe Biden didn’t wake up one day and realize he’d been wrong for 30 years. I covered him in the Senate, in the Obama White House, in the Democratic Party’s post-Trump reckoning. Biden was rarely, if ever, the voice calling for transformational change or go-it-alone ambition.
See also:
Other:
Half of Asian Americans Say Race Relations Have Worsened
Public Policy Institute of California
When asked about the current state of race relations in the US in PPIC’s March survey, a plurality of Californians (43%) said that things are worse than they were a year ago, compared to 36% who said things are about the same and 19% who felt things are better.
Opinion: When Will Liberals Reclaim Free Speech?
Wall Street Journal
When speech can be suppressed, the people with the least power are likely to lose the most. That’s why every great tribune of social justice in American history was also a zealous advocate for free speech.
MADDY INSTITUTE PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMMING
Sunday, April 11, at 10 a.m on ABC30 – Maddy Report: "Little Hoover Commission Report: Labor Trafficking" - Guest: Pedro Nava, Chairman - Little Hoover Commission. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
Sunday, April 11, at 10 a.m. on Newstalk 580AM/105.9FM (KMJ) – Maddy Report - Valley Views Edition: “Labor Trafficking, Poverty and Income Inequality” - Guests: Pedro Nava, Chairman - Little Hoover Commission; Sarah Bohn, Public Policy Institute of California. Host: Maddy Institute Executive Director, Mark Keppler.
AGRICULTURE/FOOD
Animal rights activists take aim at Central Valley farms; cruelty claims at Land O’Lakes
Fresno Bee
The animal rights activist group Direct Action Everywhere is leveling claims of animal abuse at several Land O’Lakes dairy operations in the central San Joaquin Valley, including Zonneveld Dairy near Laton in Fresno County.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE/FIRE/PUBLIC SAFETY
Crime:
Should California decriminalize psychedelic drugs? Army veteran makes his case to lawmakers
Fresno Bee
The 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran said he felt worthless and depressed when he returned from a deployment in Afghanistan, where who lost both legs and an arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device.
Placer County arrests for illegal gun possession nearly double in past year, deputies say
Sacramento Bee
Placer County deputies have encountered almost double the amount of people illegally armed with guns in the past year, as violence rises amid the coronavirus pandemic nationwide.
Public Safety:
National civil rights group: Fresno PD should not give cover to white nationalist officers
Fresno Bee
A national civil rights legal group penned a letter calling on Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama to fire a Fresno police officer who formerly identified as a Proud Boy and to take steps to root out white nationalism in the police department.
Cops, community come together to share approaches to combat gang violence
Bakersfield Californian
Those who fight to reduce gang violence in Bakersfield may sometimes seem like Sisyphus, the figure from Greek mythology required to forever roll a boulder uphill.
Turlock launches police advisory board. Here’s why meetings aren’t open to the public
Modesto Bee
After the Turlock Police Department’s new advisory board met for the first time last month and began giving feedback on homelessness, Interim Chief Steven Williams said he plans to request perspectives on additional issues ranging from race to use of force.
Details emerge on how Modesto will engage residents in talks over how cops police city
Modesto Bee
Modesto leaders will have a conversation with the community regarding the Police Department’s policies and practices as part of an effort that could result in the city forming a civilian oversight board for the department.
Fire:
Newsom to visit Fresno, discuss plans to combat wildfires following brutal 2020 season
Fresno Bee
Gov. Gavin Newsom will visit the Fresno area on Thursday to tour the work being done in preparation of the possibility of another series of wildfires.
See also:
Serious Accident Review Team will release report on Porterville Library fire
Visalia Times Delta
More than a year after Porterville Library caught fire, residents could have answers on how and why the deadly fire caused such extensive damage. Residents might also know if the incident could have been prevented to some extent.
ECONOMY/JOBS
Economy:
Brookings
In April 2020, I published a report calling on Congress to provide federally funded hazard pay for the country’s 50 million frontline essential workers. One year later, little progress has been made.
Jobs:
Pandemic has hammered immigrant workers in California. Here’s some help for finding new jobs
Fresno Bee
The pandemic hit Paula Agras’s students hard. Some of them, as hospitality workers, have been unemployed for more than a year. Some lost family members due to COVID-19.
See also:
A California union wants to help workers find better jobs after the pandemic. Here’s how Sacramento Bee
5 Ways the American Jobs Plan Can Support State Workforce Policy
EdNote
Last week, the Biden administration released the American Jobs Plan to support infrastructure across the United States. Much of the plan focuses on mitigating the climate crises and supporting a transitioning economy that is globally competitive.
EDUCATION
K-12:
Clovis Educators Push to Form Union
Clovis RoundUp
Clovis educators have launched an organizing effort called the Association of Clovis Educators (ACE) in hopes of forming a union within the Clovis Unified School District.
See also:
How do Stanislaus school districts look to use Rescue Plan funds? Here are some answers
Modesto Bee
The well-being and mental health of students and employees are top-of-mind for at least some Stanislaus County education leaders as they look at ways to spend federal COVID-19 pandemic recovery money.
Here’s when Fresno Unified schools plan to reopen for students five days a week
Fresno Bee
Fresno Unified schools plan to return to in-person instruction five days a week next fall, Superintendent Bob Nelson said Wednesday.
California youth sports play on during the pandemic, but what about face masks?
Sacramento Bee
Youth sports have returned to a Sacramento area salvaging something resembling normal during a second pandemic spring with young athletes playing on fields and diamonds across the region.
Fixing K-12 Education in California
California Globe
More parents than ever have now witnessed the selfish overreach of the teachers’ unions, at the same time as they’ve experienced creative educational solutions that bypass the traditional public school system.
About 80% of K-12 Teachers & Staff Have Gotten a Vaccine Dose
New York Times
California set a date to fully reopen, if all goes well. President Biden pushed up his target date for making all adults eligible for vaccines by two weeks, to April 19, matching the timetable already being put in place by many states.
Higher Ed:
Latest News on Coronavirus and Higher Education
Inside Higher Ed
St. Edward's University last week said that all students would be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fall.
Why expanded student supports can improve community college outcomes and boost skill attainment
Brookings
Given their low tuition and widespread accessibility, community colleges are key to expanding higher educational attainment and boosting skills in this country, which can provide an important avenue for upward social mobility.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Environment:
White House Considering Nearly Doubling Obama’s Climate Pledge
Bloomberg
The White House is considering a pledge to cut U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions by 50% or more by the end of the decade, a target that would nearly double the country’s previous commitment and require dramatic changes in the power, transportation and other sectors.
Did you feel it? 3.7 earthquake hits parts of Fresno, Merced counties, USGS reports
Fresno Bee
An earthquake shook parts of western Fresno and Merced counties Wednesday afternoon. The magnitude 3.7 earthquake shook parts of South Dos Palos, Mendota and Firebaugh around 1:18 p.m., the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
See also:
Your Weather Forecast Update: Warmer Climate Will Be The New 'Normal'
VPR
It's become so common, perhaps you've stopped noticing how often your local weather forecast is "above normal." It's noted during extreme heat in the summer, when mild temperatures persist through the winter, or when nights don't cool down like they used to.
Microplastics Are a Big—and Growing—Part of Global Pollution
PEW
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ recent report, “Breaking the Plastic Wave,” and accompanying paper in the journal Science, provides the results of an ambitious modeling effort to understand how plastic production, use, and disposal contribute to this issue.
CO2, methane emissions surged 2020 despite pandemic: NOAA
The Hill
Carbon dioxide and methane emissions surged in 2020 even amid coronavirus shutdowns, according to research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released Wednesday.
See also:
Energy:
Here’s why city leaders say Fresno’s first solar farm will be good for local PG&E bills
Fresno Bee
The city of Fresno is converting 85 acres of land at the Fresno Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility to a solar farm in partnership with Fresno Community Solar Developers, LLC, run by Richard Spencer and Larry Westerlund.
See also:
PG&E to end suspension of disconnections for unpaid bills June 30
abc30
The utility company is urging customers who have outstanding balances to work with them to find assistance options before the deadline.
Biofuels producers, farmers not sold on switch to electric
Bakersfield Californian
The president and auto industry maintain the nation is on the cusp of a gigantic shift to electric vehicles and away from liquid-fueled cars, but biofuels producers and some of their supporters in Congress aren’t buying it.
HEALTH/HUMAN SERVICES
Health:
How soon — and how long — could you feel side effects of COVID vaccines?
Fresno Bee
Scientists and doctors have been telling the public since before COVID-19 vaccines became available in the U.S. that side effects after the shot are normal and should be expected; it’s a sign your body is building a defense against the disease.
See also:
Vaccine Refusal May Put Herd Immunity At Risk, Researchers Warn VPR
COVID-19 vaccines work well against California variant, scientists say Los Angeles Times
Rise of coronavirus variants will define the next phase of the pandemic in the U.S. Washington Post
Nurses concerned about CA relaxing COVID restrictions too soon
abc30
The California Nurses Association is warning that it's still too soon to relax COVID-19 restrictions. As more businesses open and more people gather, frontline healthcare workers are urging everyone to continue wearing masks.
See also:
Will I still need a mask? What you can and can’t do under California’s new reopening plan Sacramento Bee
Can your unvaccinated children visit family indoors? What you should know Mercury News
1 in 3 COVID-19 survivors suffers 'brain disease,' study finds
abc30
As many as one in three people infected with Covid-19 have longer-term mental health or neurological symptoms, researchers reported Tuesday.
See also:
How did COVID-19 impact flu in Stanislaus County? Here are the numbers
Modesto Bee
No deaths from influenza have been reported in Stanislaus County through March 21, according to county public health surveillance.
Human Services:
California counties a hodgepodge of highs and lows in vaccinating vulnerable seniors
Mercury News
Even as California prepares to expand vaccine eligibility on April 15 to all residents age 16 and up, the state has managed to inoculate only about half its senior population — the 65-and-older target group deemed most vulnerable to death and serious illness in the pandemic.
See also:
Vaccines on tap for California’s children, but what do parents say? EdSource
California expecting nearly 90% drop in J&J vaccines next week, leading to fewer first-shot appointments Mercury News
Editorial: Vaccine passports needed before Gov. Newsom’s reckless reopening
Mercury News
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s move to reopen the state by June 15 must be accompanied by a vaccine passport system that ensures public gatherings don’t become venues for spreading coronavirus.
More than a half million Americans gain health insurance coverage under Biden
Tampa Bay Times
Biden campaigned on a strategy of building on the Obama-era health law to push the United States toward coverage for all. As president, he’s wasted no time.
IMMIGRATION
California Democrat moves to strengthen state’s oversight of unaccompanied immigrant children
Sacramento Bee
In the wake of a recent influx of migrants arriving to the U.S.-Mexico border, a Democratic lawmaker is carrying a bill that would strengthen the state’s mandate to look out for the welfare of unaccompanied immigrant children housed in state-licensed facilities across California.
More than 172,000 migrants, most in decades, stopped at US-Mexico border in March
abcNews
Immigration authorities arrested or detained more than 172,000 migrants at the southwest border last month, according to administration officials.
Arrests & deportations of immigrants in US illegally drop under Biden with shift in priorities
CNN
The number of people arrested and deported for being in the US illegally has dropped under President Joe Biden after his administration narrowed its enforcement focus to those who may pose a threat or have criminal backgrounds, marking a shift from the policies under the Trump administration.
LAND USE/HOUSING
Land Use:
Fresno councilman offers solution for rezoning standoff. Why community leaders are saying no
Fresno Bee
Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias has flipped his stance on a southwest industrial rezone application that’s up for consideration Wednesday night at the Planning Commission meeting.
Already trashed for decades, Fresno canals worse off due to homeless crisis, pandemic
Fresno Bee
The miles of waterways in the Fresno area are homes of last resort for some of the region’s homeless — and straining resources of the Fresno Irrigation District.
Fresno’s Tower Theatre to be taken off market, court filing says. Sale to church uncertain?
Fresno Bee
The attorney for the landlord of Tower Theatre has signaled the sale of the historic landmark will not go through as planned, but the next step remains unclear.
Betting On The Future: Tule River Tribe and EMC celebrate Groundbreaking for casino
Porterville Recorder
Tuesday was a historical day for the Tule River Indian Tribe and Eagle Mountain Casino (EMC) as they took the biggest step towards relocating to the City of Porterville during a groundbreaking ceremony held at their future location off of Scranton.
Housing:
Pharmacy Giant Invests $6.7m For Fresno Housing Projects
Business Journal
Pharmacy chain CVS Health announced it has surpassed $200 million in affordable housing investments in California, with nearly $7 million invested in Fresno.
The $50 billion race to save America’s renters from eviction
Washington Post
The Biden administration again extended a federal moratorium on evictions last week, but conflicting court rulings on whether the ban is legal, plus the difficulty of rolling out nearly $50 billion in federal aid, means the country’s reckoning with its eviction crisis may come sooner than expected.
See also:
Need help navigating the COVID-19 Rent Relief program? This county partner can help Visalia Times Delta
Editorial: The Permanent Housing Crisis Wall Street Journal
Editorial: Is there a way to keep Fresno renters from becoming homeless? Help them in legal disputes Fresno Bee
2021 California Housing Legislation Highlights
Alfred Twu
After a couple years of huge wildfires, change is on the way. The strategy combines insurance coverage, retrofitting buildings to be less flammable, and shifting development away from hazardous areas.
New California homeless database aims to help policymakers
Fresno Bee
A new California data warehouse system unveiled Wednesday should help policymakers better understand and address the issue of homelessness in a state that has the most unhoused people in the country, officials said.
Biden’s Infrastructure Plan Seeks to Ease Housing Shortage With Looser Zoning Rules
Wall Street Journal
A Biden administration push to increase the supply of affordable housing aims to coax states and localities into easing restrictions on new construction, a bid to help address a historic shortage of new housing.
PUBLIC FINANCES
Where is my stimulus payment? Why you might still be waiting for the money
Fresno Bee
The latest stimulus payment should be in your hands, or at least your bank account, Wednesday if you’re a qualified retiree who didn’t file tax returns in 2019 or 2020.
See also:
More than 2 million Californians may miss out on stimulus checks — but who’s at risk? Sacramento Bee
McManus: How to catch cheaters who don’t shoulder their share of the tax burden
Los Angeles Times
If you’ve filled out your federal tax return by now, you may have noticed that Form 1040 includes a new question on top: Did you have any transactions in bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies last year?
Walters: Would fed change make higher state taxes more likely?
CalMatters
California has long held the dubious honor of having the nation’s highest income tax rates — 13.3% for those at the very top of the income ladder.
Opinion: Promoting Racial Equity Through California’s Tax and Revenue Policies
California Budget & Policy Center
Legacies of historical racist policies and ongoing discrimination in areas such as education, employment, and housing have barred many Californians of color from economic opportunities.
TRANSPORTATION
Biden Administration Acknowledges California's Interest in “Better Transportation Resources"
Spectrum News 1
President Joe Biden revealed his roughly $2 trillion infrastructure plan as a one-time capital investment spread over eight years. Biden said he would raise the corporate tax rate about 7% and reiterated that no one making under $400,000 would see a tax increase.
WATER
State Water Resources Control Board
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Division of Water Rights (Division) recognizes the importance of planning for drought or dry conditions given California’s variable climate and the recent 2012-2016 drought.
California is on the brink of drought – again. Is it ready?
The Guardian
California is at the edge of another protracted drought, just a few years after one of the worst dry spells in state history left poor and rural communities without well water, triggered major water restrictions in cities, forced farmers to idle their fields, killed millions of trees, and fueled devastating megafires.
Opinion: California needs comprehensive groundwater management
CalMatters
While California’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act promised comprehensive protection of the state’s groundwater, significant gaps remain in its coverage.
“Xtra”
Cruisin’ for Peace: Summer event for downtown Fresno proposed by councilman
Fresno Bee
A warm-weather event at Chukchansi Park bringing together the best of Fresno’s Chicano car culture and the diversity of food created by the city’s street vendors is being put forward by Councilmember Luis Chavez, who sees it as a win-win for the city.
Test yourself with our new free game: PolitiTruth
Think you can tell the difference between True and False?
Do you really know what is fake news?
Support the Maddy Daily
Thank you!
Maddy Institute Updated List of San Joaquin Valley Elected Officials HERE.
The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established to honor the legacy of one of California’s most principled and effective legislative leaders of the last half of the 20th Century by engaging, preparing and inspiring a new generation of governmental leaders for the 21st Century. Its mission is to inspire citizen participation, elevate government performance, provide non-partisan analysis and assist in providing solutions for public policy issues important to the region, state and nation.
This document is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, The Maddy Institute does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the document. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.
Subscribe to the Maddy Daily HERE
Or, to Subscribe or Unsubscribe: email amyboam@csufresno.edu
To subscribe or unsubscribe, email: amyboam@csufresno.edu